Geo 302 - 11.03.02

1. Geo 302 - 11.03.02 • Tourism development trends • Ecotourism • Case from Costa Rica: • Tortuguero, ”the ecotourism prototype”

3. … almost 400 million arrivals in 1999

4. World Tourism Organization • http://www.world-tourism.org/

10. Tourism in Developing Countries The many kinds of tourism: • “Sun & Sand” etc. (mass tourism) • Nature Tourism • Adventure Tourism of many kinds • Cultural Tourism • Green Tourism • Responsible Tourism • Sustainable Tourism • Ecotourism (“ecology / ecological tourism”) • = priority sector in very many developing countries

11. Tourism in Developing Countries Tourisme & development, economic & local, systematic typologies: • Individual, Mass tourism • “Informal”, “Formal” or Unorganised, Organised • Pioneer, ”Backpackers” • = ”anti-tourists”….? • “Sandal tourist” / “Bubble tourist” • = ??? • Typical turist destination development: TALC

12. TALC - Tourist Area Life Cycle Model

13. What is ecotourism? ”...While the details vary, most definitions of ecotourism boil down to a special form of tourism that meets three criteria: 1) it provides for conservation measures 2) it includes meaningful community participation and 3) it is profitable and can sustain itself. …. ”

14. What is ecotourism? • Strictly defined "ecotourism" is relatively low-impact group travel packages or tours to destinations in nature; • "adventure travel" may be individuals or groups engaged in a consumer activity associated with the outdoors: not necessarily environmentally sensitive or ecologically sound. • One might speak of "true ecotourism" or "false ecotourism" ("greenwashing").

15. What is ecotourism? • ”Sustainable tourism”: • the most all-encompassing term for the cultural, environmental... and fiscal, responsibility of the tourism industry as a whole. • Sustainable tourism would therefore include true ecotourism and responsible adventure travel. • ”Responsible tourism”: Originally used by social activists often without a nature component entirely… .

16. World Tourism Organization "Sustainable tourism development • meets the needs of present tourists and host regions • while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future. • It is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled • while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems." (WTO)

17. What is ecotourism? • ”Greenwashing" in tourism: • falsification of objective requirements for environmental conservation, ecological sustainability, and/or socio-cultural responsibility.

18. Ecotourism Professionals working within the field of ecotourism generally agree that it is characterized by: • Travel to a natural area. • Travel that supports the conservation of biodiversity. • Travel that brings benefits to local host communities. • Travel that leads to greater understanding of the natural or cultural environment visited.

19. Ecotourism • Including these four components in a travel package significantly restricts the number of products that can genuinely be labelled ecotourism. • Many confuse the term with nature tourism or adventure travel, but they are not the same. • Rather, ecotourism is one niche market within the larger, and rapidly expanding, nature tourism market. • By our estimates, nature-based tourism now comprises 20 per cent of the world travel market, • and ecotourism 7 per cent.

20. What is ecotourism? • Different perspectives: • Ecotourism as ideology / ethics: • tourists • suppliers • Ecotourism as (government) development strategy: • resource mangement • sustainable development • Ecotourism as marketing strategy: • opportunistic • ”greenwashing”…?

21. International Year of Ecotourism • http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/IYE-Main-Menu.htm

22. http://www.uneptie.org/pc/tourism/ • UNEP Publication • Ecotourism: Principles, Practices and Policies for Sustainability

23. WTO-UNEP CONCEPT PAPER - INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ECOTOURISM 2002: While there is not a universal definition for ecotourism, its general characteristics can be summarised as follows: • 1. All nature-based forms of tourism in which the main motivation of the tourists is the observation and appreciation of nature as well as the traditional cultures prevailing in natural areas • 2. It contains educational and interpretation features • 3. It is generally, but not exclusively organised for small groups by specialised and small, locally owned businesses. …..

24. WTO-UNEP CONCEPT PAPER - INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ECOTOURISM 2002: • 3. …. Foreign operators of varying sizes also organise, operate and/or market ecotourism tours, generally for small groups. • 4. It minimises negative impacts upon the natural and socio-cultural environment • 5. It supports the protection of natural areas by • • generating economic benefits for host communities, organisations and authorities managing natural areas with conservation purposes, • • providing alternative employment and income opportunities for local communities, • • increasing awareness towards the conservation of natural and cultural assets, both among locals and tourists.

25. WTO-UNEP CONCEPT PAPER - INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ECOTOURISM 2002: • Over the years, it has also become clear that some concerns still need to be wholly addressed in ecotourism, such as: • • land tenure and control of the ecotourism development process by host communities, • • efficiency and fairness of the current concept of protected areas for protection of biological and cultural diversity • • the need for additional precautions and monitoring when operating in especially sensitive areas • • indigenous and traditional rights in areas suitable for ecotourism development,

29. Tortuguero Conservation Area

33. Tortuguero

35. OUTSIDE WORLD (US, World Market, Debt Crisis, “Brundtland”) Government Migration - Commuting TORTUGUERO: External Owners NAT. RESOURCES LOCAL COMM. “Caribb.” or “Tico”? Subsistence Comm. Co-op. “Commons” Local Market Private Import Export Tourists - Researchers - Environmentalists